Parenthood Archives - Traveling Wallet

10Nov 2020 by The Roamer No Comments

002 Creative Childcare Solutions in Enterprise, Crisis and Covid

Powered by RedCircle Listen here or at Apple, Google podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, or your favorite player. Hi there Changemakers, In this episode of Her EnterpRISE podcast, We are talking about childcare. Do we have working parents in the house? Entrepreneurial moms in the house? While some of us might have amazing engaged spouses or co-parent. A lot of times figuring out childcare falls on the shoulders of moms. Or it is their schedules that are first affected. Kelly, Nicole and I (Melissa) talk about our experiences. So that, you can leave with new ideas for how to tackle this fluid demand. They answer the following questions: Who is taking a backseat when childcare becomes an issue?Can you incorporate your children into your activities?What is a fun, silly and super helpful gift for parents?How has your childcare…

31Oct 2016 by The Roamer No Comments

Our California Road Trip and 4 must see views

Family, Parenthood, Travel

Mr. Roamer made a beautiful desktop background of our recent California road trip. I look at it and remember. Oh yeah, I still haven't told you how it went. So today lets talk travel & family. If you haven't heard. We are moving to Michigan in about 1 year. This caused us to rethink our yearly vacations. We decided to cancel our Michigan trip, in favor of checking out California. It's funny how that works. We've lived here for over 5 years and have only seen a few places. Opting instead to fly out of the state during our time off. This year was different. (more…)

17Mar 2016 by The Roamer No Comments

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Family, Parenthood, Savvy Spending

"Ireland, it's the one place on earth That heaven has kissed With melody, mirth, And meadow and mist."* Is St. Patrick's Day another hallmark holiday? (more…)

03Mar 2016 by The Roamer 4 Comments

My single biggest tip for traveling with small kids

Parenthood, Travel

Becoming a new parent is filled with changes in how you live your life. There are things that will become more challenging, but that doesn't mean you can't do them anymore. Traveling is one of those things. You'll hear or see a lot of advice that recommends you get your traveling desires out before having kids. After you have kids you can kiss it all good bye. It will be just too inconvenient. Some of us didn't get the memo early enough to do that. While others of us actually want our kids to experience travel. Either way the truth is that traveling with kids does indeed add a different dynamic to the whole process. If someone tells you different nod politely, but be ready. Challenges do exist and the…

09Oct 2015 by The Roamer 2 Comments

A year off from work, Why? & How?

Counter Culture, Family, Finance, Parenthood

I have been wanting to take a year off from work for a very long time. As the year gets closer to its end I have a lot to contemplate. A young mother The whole idea started after giving birth to my son, he's 7 now. See I got pregnant while attending university and due to the situation I didn't even take my full 6 weeks off to recoup. I had deadlines and metrics to meet if I wasn't going to become another drop out statistic. There were plenty of breaks thanks to the academic school term and because of how close I live to campus I spent lots of time back home with my baby. But I still felt I was missing a lot. I remember telling my significant…

14Sep 2015 by The Roamer 3 Comments

Weekly Pain & Gain: Kids and Money

Parenthood, Weekly Pain & Gain

Kids can't live with them can't live without them. Seriously this week wasn't so bad but this weekend. Sheesh. I was an emotional wreck. Pain You know as the week progresses I like to make notes about what would be my gain and pain... So that I have some ideas to work with. My pain this week was going to be all financial. See I messed up and miss calculated my IRA numbers, which negates last weeks gain :( . I really thought I was going to be able to max it out... But I accidentally had one extra space, I was counting contributions for January as well... Hmm. So anyways that was going to be my pain for the week but then Sunday happen. We, (I?) Had a big…

28Aug 2015 by The Roamer 7 Comments

Frugal Back to School shopping

Maximizing money, Parenthood, Savvy Spending

Last week on Tuesday Jr went back to school. Not only that, I also realized I'm getting old he's getting old. I mean he's in 2nd grade! ( inhale ,exhale, inhale, exhale) What happened to the surprise baby. :( After the initial shock I had a thought. And it went like this. "Oh yeah, wasn't there a shopping thing I was supposed to do to get ready for today" I didn't prepare at all. I didn't even really think about preparing for it at all. Other then "oh Jr starts school next week ". Instead of think about it in regards to money and purchases. I thought about it in regards to time. How are our schedules going to change? Adjust? But wait a minute I want to go back to…

17Aug 2015 by The Roamer No Comments

Weekly Pain & Gain: No Siesta for you! And other adventures.

Parenthood, Travel, Weekly Pain & Gain

So much good this week, but don't worry I still have a pain to complain about. Pain Minnie Roamer is not resting during her standard nap time. She does once in a while but is now predominantly taking her siesta during our drive to work and to see papa Roamer. So instead of resting at 1 pm at home. She is resting at 3 in the car. This is a real pain because that time was usually used to spend 1 on 1 time with Jr. Roamer while he's in summer vacation. But during his school time. I could use the time to rest, work on ZTL hw., a blog post, and even read. But that only works if I'm not behind the wheel of a car. She is only…

10Aug 2015 by The Roamer No Comments

Weekly Pain & Gain: DIY refrigerator maintenance

Parenthood, Weekly Pain & Gain

Rollercoaster weeks seems to be the thing right now. We accomplished a lot but we also faced some difficult challenges. Pain My goals for this blog are to discuss traveling, parenting, and finances all how they relate to me. I realize I haven't really been touching on parenting too much and that's because that is my biggest challenge. This week, actually probably more like over a month, parenting has proved quite challenging. We have good days and then we have terrible days. But this week was really exposing as some of my poor parenting decision came full circle to bite me in the butt. I keep thinking I should probably take a break from reading all these finance articles and instead focus on parenting ones. Or at the very least…

15Apr 2015 by The Roamer 4 Comments

Biking with Kids: Our 1st Trip to School

Counter Culture, Family, Parenthood

We are on our way to Badassity. Monday we move on to a new challenge. Biking long distances with kids on a time constraint schedule with only one parent! The time part and the 1 parent here is the new piece. We spent time preparing for this trip by talking about it for a few weeks before hand and getting some of the logistical information. Like is there even a bike rack at the school?Answer. YES. [caption id="attachment_1050" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Minnie Roamer letting me know she is ready to ride her own bike.[/caption] So we woke up early got ready and set out. We rode the route we usually drive since it has a bike lane in some areas. The only adjustment we made was taking some different streets so…

18Mar 2015 by The Roamer 4 Comments

Raw and unfiltered: I want more

Counter Culture, Parenthood

It's the year of more says Ramit Do you want more? I do want more. More me time, more free time, more travel, more calm, more balance. But I don't want more jewelry, more clothes, more bills, more clutter, more dinners out , more Jones' or fake friends. I do want more snuggling, more sleeping, more kids time, more roaming, more wandering, more adventure. I don't want more nail polish, or more make up, more stress, more demanding people. I could use more money, more freedom, more passive income. I don't need more stereotypes, more restrictions, I don't need more problems or why it won't work. I do want more solutions, more innovation, more education , more reading. I don't want more late nights at work…

08Jan 2015 by The Roamer 8 Comments

2014 Family Relationships Reviewed

Finance, Parenthood, Yearly Review Series

2014 Relationship Goals [caption id="attachment_784" align="aligncenter" width="340"] 2014 goals[/caption] Focus on the Marriage [caption id="attachment_785" align="aligncenter" width="196"] Alone time with the husband. Big Goal for 2014! Picture in Frugalwood's headless style.[/caption] In 2013 I ran across a great idea on Pinterest. A great little present where I had pre planned and partially paid for dates. I don't want to get into to much detail about the gift but it was a fun and effective way to ensure Mr. Roamer and I were going to be spending some alone time. In my household growing up I don't have any memories about my parents dating. Yet so much of what I read now about healthy relationships highlights the importance of cultivating the spousal relationship. WHY?! because the kids will leave in 18…

02Jan 2015 by The Roamer 6 Comments

2014 Goals Reviewed

Finance, Parenthood, Reading, Yearly Review Series

How did I do with my 2014 goals? [caption id="attachment_740" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Goals Before 2014 Started[/caption] [caption id="attachment_741" align="aligncenter" width="225"] paper reminder barely surviving a year of annotations[/caption] I am going to break them down. But the 3 major ones I am going to post on individually. Which ones are the 3 major ones? Well the ones that pertain to this site more specifically. Relationships (Parenthood and family time), Travel, and Finances. I want to go into more detail for these 3 areas so I will post on them individually. My Finances will reveal our net worth for the first time(WHAT?) So stay tuned. Now lets cover all my other goals. Spiritual FAIL! yes I did not really make an effort to get these done. That is why you see…

20Dec 2014 by The Roamer 4 Comments

Weekend Wanderings #2: The Easy Life

Counter Culture, Parenthood, Reading, Weekend Wanderings

Welcome to my weekend wanderings. I'm the Roamer here at Traveling Wallet. I hope you enjoy these videos. I know when you make big goals you often need inspiration and motivation and that's what I hope you'll get here in these segments. Do you feel like life is hard? Are you running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to climb some corporate ladder? So much to do so little time. I often like to ponder such questions. Sometimes I don't have all the words, or know all the right things to say. In these times I'm happy to defer to the experts. In my head I made it a goal to include at least 3 videos for all my weekend wanderings but today's video is so powerful and…

06Dec 2014 by The Roamer 2 Comments

Weekend Wanderings: Include Language in your Journey

Counter Culture, Finance, Parenthood, Weekend Wanderings

I have a little ritual I developed at work to cope with my dissatisfaction. I had listened to 7 habits cast and realized that effective people take responsibility for their lives. I was feeling rather passionless when I started but I found that watching some TEDx talks always gave my mind a work out whether it was inspirational or informative or controversial. It got my juices flowing. So I've made it a point that every Friday I schedule 30 min. To be inspired. After watching these I find a few that just are Wow and I want to share them. I use to email them out but it felt weird to just include specific people. And it seems limiting. But now, I own a blog a place where I can…

26Nov 2014 by The Roamer 4 Comments

Lets give thanks

Parenthood, Special Occasions

Happy Thanksgiving Hi everyone. We prepped the Turkey today and got other things ready for tomorrow night. We are hosting our thanksgiving and I'm looking forward to having people over for delicious food and family games. Maybe we'll play Pictionary, Euchre or some Wizard. Since it is Thanksgiving time, today I wanted to take the time and talk about the things I am thankful for. There are many things. My Children [caption id="attachment_431" align="aligncenter" width="168" class=" "] Have to make sure the little ones are taken care of.[/caption] To be able to come home to my kids and spend time with them. It doesn't happen everyday that I get this feeling, but I still get days where I look at them and am blow away and so overwhelmed. It seems…

19Nov 2014 by The Roamer 4 Comments

This Year Lets Focus on Thanksgiving not Gift Giving

Parenthood, Special Occasions

On today's travel we walk carefully, opening and closing our wallet through the treacherous holiday season. An open letter from the Roamer about the Holidays. Just recently I was thinking about how Thanksgiving is getting closer and that of course means that Black Friday is around the corner. As the holidays get closer you are probably starting to think about all the gifts you need to purchase. You are excited! Shopping is so much fun and gift giving is even better. Right? And all those bills you'll have to pay off next January, those are just a minor inconvenience. Right? What about getting gifts? Just thinking of all the gifts you'll get, makes you so happy! You never get stuff you don't like. Well except for those silly salt and…

31Jul 2014 by The Roamer 2 Comments

RIE, a parenting philosophy that makes sense for baby and wallet

Finance, Parenthood

A review of why the RIE philosophy mixes well with people who go against the grain. A practice where money and babies don't collide. On this blog I have set 3 main goals for myself, not just of things I want to talk about but of things I want to learn more about and get better at. The journey includes retirement, travel, and parenthood, the common denominator is using money as the tool that ties it all together. So why would someone who is budget conscious like Janet Lansbury's blog , well simply put the child rearing philosophy she speaks about does not encourage immersing your baby or any child into a sea of toys and one trick ponies. Parents are encouraged to let children develop on their own. That means…

11Jul 2014 by The Roamer 10 Comments

Choosing between the Baby and the Budget

Finance, Parenthood

When numbers like $10,000 on baby's first year get thrown around regularly, and anecdotes like it cost half a million dollars to raise kids these days. Well it isn't a surprise that most parent or would be parent feel the walls closing in even as they choose the decor for baby's room. $10,000 is what baby center says it will cost ya for baby's first year. Well I'll have to disagree as many comment-er on that page did because we just welcomed baby number 2 last year and as far as I can tell those numbers are wacko! We just celebrated the first birthday of our youngest (a little girl) and it was a nice relaxing event. Our one year celebration was just us and it was nice to not…

05Apr 2014 by The Roamer 2 Comments

Break the Mold (Family, World and Riches)

Debt Destruction, Finance, Parenthood, Travel

Thanks for visiting me at traveling wallet. This Blog is about money and its relationship(role) to Parenthood, Travel and Early Retirement. (See tag line ;) ) I'm here to talk about my journey in working to optimize these 3 areas. Currently we (spouse and I ) are working parents. My current goals in life are to spend more time with my family( i.e. kids) and still save enough money to Travel and reach Early Retirement. But the first thing is to get rid of all my/our debt. The GOALS - Destroy Debt! - Actually raise our children -Travel (1-2 trips a year any combination of in state, out of state, and international) -Early Retirement (as in 50 or younger shooting for 45) So lets talk about why savvy spending and savvy saving…

Category: Parenthood